David Schwimmer: London Police Continue the Hunt for ‘Ross From Friends’ Look-Alike

By John SmithiesNovember 2, 2018

LONDON—The hunt for a “Ross from Friends” look-alike who went viral has been expanded to the UK’s largest city, London.

The unknown man became an internet star after footage of him walking through a store with a crate of beer in Blackpool, northern England, was posted to Facebook.

Now Lancashire Police said they believe the man could be in London.

“We are working with colleagues in the Metropolitan Police to trace and arrest him,” said a police spokeswoman, according to the BBC.

The man is sought in connection with the theft of a cellphone, wallet, and jacket from a restaurant in Blackpool on Sept. 20.

CCTV shows a man Lancashire police said they wanted to identify regarding a theft from a Blackpool restaurant, posted on Oct, 23, 2018. (Lancashire Police/Facebook)

Following the original video being put online, actor David Schwimmer posted a video showing the actor shuffling through a store holding a crate of beer, giving the camera quick glance as he went past.

“Officers, I swear it wasn’t me,” he wrote in a jokey Twitter post.

The original post from Lancashire Police picked up over 133,000 comments, as Facebook users riffed on the fact that the alleged thief bore a remarkable resemblance to Schwimmer, best known for his role as Ross Geller in the sitcom “Friends.”

“Do you recognize this man?” said the original statement, innocently posted by Lancashire Police on Oct. 23. “We want to speak to him in relation to a theft at a Blackpool restaurant on the 20th September.”

Not in the UK During the Time of the Crime

Police confirmed that Schwimmer was not in the UK when the alleged crime was committed.

The police photo featuring Schwimmer’s doppelganger was shared over 65,000 times in 21 hours, with over 30,000 likes as people recalled their favorite Ross moments.

Another wrote, “We’re gonna LIFT the cans, and SLIDE them out of the store… LIFT… and SLIDE…”

Actor David Schwimmer in New York City on May 23, 2016. (Noam Galai/Getty Images for AMC)

Lancashire police responded in the spirit of the posts: “Thank you to everyone for your speedy responses. We have investigated this matter thoroughly and have confirmed that David Schwimmer was in America on this date. We’re so sorry it has to be this way.”

The comments to the original post became a spontaneous homage to the one-liners and memories of the “Friends” sitcom, which was first broadcast in 1994.

Ross’s on-off relationship with Rachel (played by Jennifer Aniston) was one of the main storylines of the 10-season show, spawning one of its most famous lines: “We were on a break.”

People on social media couldn’t resist.

One wrote, “Shouldn’t he be at work … or is he on a break?”

“Friends” won a total of six Emmys, including best comedy series in 2002.